Save Wichita Water

Water Conservation Rebate Program

Thank you for your interest in the City of Wichita's Water Conservation Rebate Program.

City Council approved $100,000 for the 2018 Water Conservation Rebate Program on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. We started taking applications on February 1, 2018 at Environmental Health, 1900 E 9th Street North and will continue until all funds have been exhausted. As of 11/16/18, we have processed 803 applications and approved $87,366.12. We have $12,633.88 remaining.

Thank you for your participation. Please see below for more information. Click the blue button for the current application. Each section has the instructions and approved lists under the appropriate heading. Click the heading to reveal the information and click the buttons of your choice. As always, if you have questions, email us or give us a call. Thank you again.

Questions?

Internal Conservation Plan

​Following the City Council Workshop on February 26, 2013, pertaining to the ongoing drought conditions, City staff from the Public Works and Utilities, Park and Recreation, and Fire departments began evaluating ideas to reduce water usage in City operations. On June 11, 2013, the City Council directed City staff to implement a number of those ideas, and continue working on others. Currently, the City has taken the following steps to conserve water, which are projected to
save over 42 million gallons and $154,000 annually.

Gray (recycled) water from the Herman Hill Water Center is now being used to water trees. This water would have otherwise ended up in the Arkansas River.

Watering of City-owned grass (not including athletic fields) has been reduced. The grass is being kept alive, but may go dormant during the hottest months of the year. The grass is also being cut at a higher level, increasing root shade and reducing evaporation.

Hours of operation at the City's interactive fountains and splash pads have been reduced, along with the show schedule at the Fountain at WaterWalk.

Water Utility staff are utilizing a new protocol for handling water taste and odor complaints from residents.

Irrigation and water system leaks are being repaired faster due to the filling of two vacant positions responsible for that work.

The Fire Department has replaced spraying kids with water with programming from their mobile fire prevention truck as part of the Community Risk Reduction program.

The Fire Department is also working on an alternative fire hydrant maintenance schedule. Fire hydrants need to be periodically tested to ensure they're working, which uses water each time. If the Department can maintain public safety while conserving water, they will move forward with a new maintenance schedule.

A pilot project to reduce the amount of water used by street sweepers began on July 1, 2013. For questions or to provide feedback on this project, please call the Street Maintenance Division of Public Works at (316) 268-4013.

Coming soon Motion sensors or push-button controls will soon be added to each of the City's interactive fountains and splash pads.

Coming soon All City construction projects must adhere to a set of landscape design guidelines. These guidelines are currently being reworked to conserve even more water while minimizing maintenance costs.

City staff continues to evaluate a number of other water saving ideas, including:

Utilizing Hess Pump Station pump cooling water for irrigation at Botanica.

Converting City-owned fescue lawn installations to bermuda.

Installing an underground water storage tank for the Fountain at WaterWalk and identifying an alternative water source.

Want to know more?

Managing Supply

Wichita's ​​Water Supplies

The City of Wichita's Water Utility draws water from two sources: Cheney Reservoir and the Equus Beds aquifer. Keeping these two sources healthy and available for future generations takes continuous work. The City invested about $250 million in the Aquifer Recovery and Storage (ASR) project, which takes extra water from the Arkansas River during high flows, treats it to drinking water quality, and stores it in the underground Equus Beds aquifer. Unfortunately, this "water savings account" was opened for business at the start of the current drought. ASR is still a good project and an important component of ensuring Wichita's future water supply, but hasn't had much of an impact on helping us get through the current drought.

Protecting Cheney Reserv​​oir

Past efforts to ensure the long-term viability of Cheney Reservoir included building a series of ponds in the Cheney watershed to reduce the amount of silt flowing into the lake. This has minimized sedimentation to the point where only 5% of Cheney Reservoir's total storage capacity has been lost, a percentage far lower than what many reservoirs in Kansas have experienced. The City has also continued to tweak the percentage of overall demand that is being pulled from Cheney Reservoir and the Equus Beds aquifer, including recently in response to the current drought. The City is now pulling 40% of our overall water from Cheney while pulling the remaining 60% from the Equus Beds aquifer.

One of the best ways to prolong the life of our two water sources is through conservation, a message the City has been educating water customers on since the early 1990's. A voluntary conservation program has been offered for 22 years and has recently expanded to include a rebate program in 2013.​

How You can Save Water

Over 20% of the average Wichitan's annual water usage can be attributed to use outside the home. Since outside usage occurs mainly during the summer and is easier to reduce than inside usage, the City is highlighting outdoor water conservation tips first. As we approach the end of the summer, indoor tips will be added. Follow the simple steps outlined below and discover how easy it can be to conserve water and save money on your water bill!​

Saving water doesn't have to be difficult. We picked the three easiest ways to make a difference without much effort​.

Water before 10:00amWater your grass before 10:00am to avoid the hottest times of the day. Watering during the early morning will increase efficiency, as less water will evaporate. Early morning watering also helps to avoid fungal problems associated with late evening and night watering.

Water deep​er and less oftenIt's better to water less often and increase the amount of time you water instead. This approach is more effective than watering a little bit every day. Not only does this method reduce evaporation, it makes your yard more drought tolerant by encouraging deeper root growth.

Mow higher and m​​ulch clippingsMow your grass one inch higher during the summer. Also, mulch your lawn clippings instead of bagging them! Not only do clippings
provide a good nutrient source for your lawn, they can provide shade for the ground and root system, reducing evaporation.

Watering deeper, less often, and before 10am are great steps to saving water while watering your lawn. The tips below can also help you save money and water while keeping your landscape healthy.

Adjust your sprinkl​​​er systemConcrete doesn't need water. When you run your irrigation system, make sure you're keeping the water on your lawn, not the sidewalk or driveway. Check out this video to learn how to adjust your sprinkler heads to keep your lawn watered and your concrete dry.

Use a ra​in barrelCapture rainwater with a rain barrel to use later for watering your plants. Not only is this a great way to reuse water that would otherwise be lost, the cost of the rain barrel (up to $75) is covered by the City's Water Conservation Rebate Program!

Water your lawn only when ne​​ededThink your lawn needs water? Walk across it. If the blades of grass spring back up, you can wait another day before watering. Are your footsteps still visible? If so, there isn't much water left inside the blades of grass, which means it's time to turn on the sprinklers.

Don't water when it's wi​ndyTry not to water when the wind is above 15 miles per hour as the majority of the water could miss the intended areas. Also, high wind speeds significantly speed up evaporation, which means that the water that does stay on course is less effective.

Upgrade your sprinkler s​​ystemConsider purchasing a smart irrigation system controller. Not only can it save you a lot of water and eventually pay for itself, it's an eligible item in the City's Water Conservation Rebate Program! Don't have the money for a smart irrigation controller but still want to save water and money? Try installing a rainwater shutoff valve. They aren't part of the rebate program but they are more affordable and can still save a lot of water.

Go the extra m​ileFor the most efficient and effective watering system possible, consider hiring a professional for an irrigation system audit. The audit can pinpoint problem spots and result in conservation improvements which can more than pay for the cost of the audit.

Saving water isn't just about watering habits, it's also about making smart landscaping and maintenance decisions. The tips below offer some small changes that can save a lot of water.

Mow at a higher l​​evelCool season grasses (fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass) make optimal use of water when they are mowed at 2.5 inches in the spring, and 3.5 inches during the summer. Warm season grasses (bermuda, buffalo, and zoysia) prefer to be mowed at 2 inches in the spring and 3 inches during the summer. No matter which type of grass you have, follow the basic rule of thumb and raise your mower one inch when it starts getting hot!

Mulch you​​r grassDon't bag your lawn clippings, mulch instead! Not only do they provide a good nutrient source for your lawn, they can provide shade for the ground and root system, reducing evaporation.

Use ​suitable plantsNeed new plants? Consider using plants from this list of water-wise plants created by the Sedgwick County K-State Research and Extension Office. Replacing part of your lawn or starting fresh? Consider planting a warm season grass such as bermuda, buffalo, or zoysia to take advantage of their low water usage and drought tolerance. Water-Wise Plants​, Trees & Ornamentals for South Central Kansas

Install a Xeriscape land​​scapeIf you have decided to start fresh with your landscape or don't have one yet, consider planning it around Xeriscape principles. Xeriscaping does not mean filling your yard with rocks and cactus. It simply means working with your natural environment instead of against it. Knowing your soil type, installing an efficient irrigation system, selecting drought resistant plants, and utilizing rock gardens where possible are all important aspects of xeriscaping.​​

While backyard pools are a fun way to cool down in the heat of the summer, they require a large amount of water. Below are some tips on how to minimize the amount of water your pool loses. Remember, every drop makes an impact.

Cover your​ poolDuring the heat of the summer, swimming pools can lose several feet of water to evaporation. Covering your pool when it's not in use is a great way to minimize this loss of water.

Check for​​ leaksPool leaks can lose vast amounts of water. If you notice your pool seems to be losing more water than usual, use a grease pencil to mark the water level. 24 hours later,​ compare the water level to where you had previously marked. If there is more than an inch difference, you may have a leak that needs to be repaired.

Backwash only when nec​essaryMost people backwash more often than is necessary. Only backwash as needed and just long enough for the water to run clean. Also, try and use your backwash water for watering your landscape! The levels of chlorine present in properly cared for pools are not harmful to plants.​

Every drop we save makes an impact. Below are some additional water conservation tips and resources. Check them out!

Visit the carw​​​ashDon't wash the car at home, instead visit a local car wash. While it may cost a little extra, it's a more efficient use of water and more environmentally friendly. The soap and dirt that washes off of your car runs down your driveway and drains to the river, while businesses treat the dirty water through the sewer system.

You don't need wat​​er to clean everythingPatios, decks, walls, and driveways can all be cleaned by broom rather than water. It may take longer, but saving every drop helps make an impact!